Optical disc cartridge handling apparatus with removable magazine

ABSTRACT

An optical disc cartridge handling apparatus, which has a removable cartridge magazine for loading and unloading groups of cartridges into the apparatus, for storing, handling, reading and writing of the optical discs stored within the cartridges. A flipper mechanism is provided to receive one of the cartridges from either of the magazine or an optical disc drive within the apparatus. Means are included for rotating the flipper mechanism about a common center line for inverting the cartridge within the flipper mechanism. A picker mechanism is included for moving the cartridge into and out of the flipper mechanism from either the magazine or the optical disc drive. A traverse mechanism is provided for supporting and moving the flipper mechanism along an axis of motion to locate the flipper mechanism adjacent either a particular slot of the magazine or the cartridge slot of the optical disc drive.

This application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No.07/776,201, filed on Oct. 15, 1991 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,251 which isa continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 07/602,631, filedon Oct. 24, 1990 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to storage and handling of disc cartridges andmore particularly to an optical disc cartridge handling apparatus with aremovable disc cartridge magazine which stores and handles optical disccartridges for the manipulation of data by a host computer.

The storage of data in magnetic media, such as floppy discs or tapes, iswell known. However, optical discs have been found to be highlyadvantageous over the magnetic media. This is so because the opticaldiscs have high degrees of integrity and data storage capabilitiestogether with a high level of sensitivity as well as environmentaltoughness.

The optical disc cartridges which hold the laser discs are ahigh-density data storage media. Currently, the media hold 0.6 gigabytesper cartridge which are soon approaching 1.2 gigabytes on up to 3gigabytes in the very near future. The cartridges perform the functionof protecting the discs from dust or dirt. It has also been found thatto keep the discs free from dust or dirt they advantageously should becontinuously oriented in their vertical position rather than laying flator horizontal which will subject the discs to collection of dust ordirt. Optical discs within cartridges are readily available in themarketplace such as from Sony Corporation of Tokyo, Japan.

Optical disc drives or the data transfer means are currently availablein the market such as the RICOH 5030E REWRITABLE, TOSHIBA WM-D070 WORM,PIONEER DD-U5001 WORM, SONY SMO D-501 REWRITABLE, and MAXOPTIX TAHITIREWRITABLE. Typically, the optical disc cartridge must be removed andinverted or flipped with reinsertion for the drive to read the otheropposite side of the disc within the cartridge. This is because mostdrives have only one laser thereby requiring the disc to be flipped overor inverted for reading or writing the other side of the disc. However,optical disc drives are beginning to be marketed and soon will beprevalent that will have more than one laser which will allow quickaccess to the storage data on either side of the optical disc media. Inthe present invention, the reading and writing of data storage on theoptical disc within the cartridge is performed by the drive under thecontrol of a host computer.

There is a need for an optical disc cartridge handling apparatus with aremovable cartridge magazine that will operate as a library tovertically store a number of optical disc cartridges and which willplace the cartridges within a particular optical disc drive as well asremove and replace the cartridges back into their storage locationwithout the need for any manual assistance by the operator of the hostcomputer. It would furthermore be advantageous for such an apparatus tohave a removable cartridge magazine which will enable the operator toreadily interchange optical discs within the apparatus as a groupwithout disassembly or timely individual discs removable from theapparatus. Such an apparatus should be compact and operate in a smooth,accurate and fast manner. It also should have preventive mechanismswhich will safeguard the apparatus and its contents from possiblemechanical shock or jarring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An optical disc cartridge handling apparatus, which has a removablecartridge magazine for loading and unloading of groups of cartridgesinto the apparatus, for storing, handling, reading and writing of theoptical discs stored within the cartridges. A flipper mechanism isprovided to receive one of the cartridges from either of the magazine oran optical disc drive within the apparatus. Means are included forrotating the flipper mechanism about a common center line for invertingthe cartridge within the flipper mechanism. A picker mechanism isincluded for moving the cartridge into and out of the flipper mechanismfrom either the magazine or the optical disc drive. A traverse mechanismis provided for supporting and moving the flipper mechanism along anaxis of motion to locate the flipper mechanism adjacent either aparticular slot of the magazine or the cartridge slot of the opticaldisc drive.

A principal object and advantage of the optical disc cartridge handlingapparatus of the present invention is that it is compact while yetproviding for automated storing, handling, reading and writing of anumber of optical discs under the control of a host computer without theneed for any manual assistance.

Another advantage and object of the present invention is that it has aremovable optical disc cartridge magazine which is readily removable andindexable within the apparatus, when permitted access to the magazine bythe apparatus, for the easy and quick manual insertion and/or removal ofdisc cartridges in the magazine and the apparatus as a whole.

Another advantage and object of the present invention is its unique,smooth, accurate and quick handling in its storage, handling, readingand writing of several optical discs stored within the removablemagazine.

Another object and advantage of the present invention is the uniquemechanisms which provide for protection of the apparatus and disccartridges should the apparatus be subject to mechanical shock orjarring.

Another object and advantage of the present invention is that theapparatus provides for vertical storage handling, reading and writing ofthe cartridges and discs which make the disc less prone to dust andcontamination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the optical disc cartridge handlingapparatus with its housing in broken outline and a phantom view of thecartridge magazine elevated up and out of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of the apparatus with portionsbroken away to permit viewing of certain components of the apparatusotherwise not so readily visible;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the flipper cartridge retainermechanism of the apparatus taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the flipper bracket and alignmentand stopping mechanism of the apparatus as taken along lines 5--5 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the optical disc cartridge magazineremoved from the apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the magazine taken along lines7--7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the magazine with a cartridgepartially broken away therein taken along lines 8--8 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Optical disc cartridges 10 are well known and may be seen in theFigures, particularly FIG. 8. Optical disc cartridges 10 each have twoopposing pick notches 12 with index or key apertures or holes 14somewhat adjacent the pick notches 12. Opposite the end of cartridge 10having pick notches 12 are located two cartridge detents 18 which alsopermit an indexing function within optical disc drive 20 shown inFIG. 1. Drive 20 typically has its housing 22 with a front panel 24having an elongate slot 26 within the front panel 24 to permit insertionand removal of an optical disc cartridge 10.

The optical disc cartridge handling apparatus 30 may clearly be seen inFIGS. 1-3. Apparatus 30 has a housing 32 shown in phantom outline and abase plate 34 upon which the apparatus components are mounted.Generally, the apparatus 30 comprises a cartridge or media store 50 withthe removable cartridge magazine 70 along with an optical disc drive 20.A media transport element 121 is provided which includes a flippermechanism 122, flipper alignment and stopping mechanism 145, flippercartridge retainer mechanism 161, picker mechanism 191, drive loadermechanism 272, and traverse mechanism 300.

More specifically, the optical disc cartridge handling apparatus 30 hasa cartridge or media store 50 which includes magazine frame 52. Frame 52includes an outer vertical side plate 54, an inner vertical side plate56 and a rear vertical side plate 58. The apparatus 30 and particularlythe frame 52 is provided with a cartridge magazine apparatus alignmentmeans 81 discussed further hereafter but which particularly includesmagazine guide bars 60 which are vertically oriented. The bars or guides60 have opposing lips 62 forming magazine guide channel, slot or groove64 along inner vertical side plate 56.

The cartridge magazine 70 may be clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 6-8. Themagazine 70 includes an open front 71, a top wall 72, a bottom wall 74,inward side wall 76, outward side walls 77 and rear wall 79, all ofwhich are suitably held together such as by mechanical screws 78.Magazine 70 has a handle 80 on its top wall 72 for easy manual graspingand carrying of the magazine 70 as it may be removed from apparatus 30through an opening (not shown) in housing 32 which appropriately may beunder software control.

The cartridge magazine apparatus alignment means 81, as previouslydiscussed with respect to groove 64, further includes index guide, keyor tongue 82. Tongue 82 appropriately has protruding lips 83 and abeveled lower end 84 which appropriately permits alignment and indexingof the magazine 70 into its frame 52 as a tongue 82 is guided intogroove or slot 64 as may be visualized in FIG. 1.

Within the magazine cartridge 70 and along bottom and top walls 72 and74 are located ribs 86 which appropriately form slots 87 for theinsertion and storage of optical disc cartridges 10. Magazine cartridgeretainer means 88 is provided and includes a plate 91 suitably affixedto the inside of rear wall 79 as by machine screws 92. Plate 91appropriately has opposing pairs of fingers or tabs 90 which are alignedwithin slots 87. Tabs 90 appropriately have some bias or spring actionas to oppose upward movement of the tabs 90. The cartridge magazine 70also has a sensor flag, knob or tab 94 protruding forwardly from thebottom wall 74 as will be discussed further. Optical sensors 96 and 98are provided as being mounted along magazine frame walls 52 and discdrive frame 36. One sensor 98 transmits while the other optical sensor96 receives the photo signal which is interrupted whenever a disccartridge 10 becomes disjarred from cartridge magazine 70 within theapparatus 30.

By this arrangement, the cartridges 10 are generally retained byretainer means 88 within the magazine 70. Should a cartridge 10 becomedisjarred from magazine 10, the apparatus 30 is readily so informed thata particular cartridge 10 is partially out of magazine 70 because itbreaks the signal between optical sensors 96 and 98.

Media transport element 121 includes a flipper mechanism 122. Flippermechanism 122 has a side A cartridge holder plate 124 with a cartridgeguide lip 126 and a slot 127 (not shown) therethrough. Opposing andparallel side B cartridge holder plate 128 has a cartridge guide lip 103also with a slot 131 therethrough. Plastic guides 132 are provided alongthe opposing but remote edges of plates 124 and 128. The plates are heldtogether by a machined bar 134 which is connected to shaft 136 forrotation of the flipper mechanism 122 about center line L. Shaft 136 isthen journaled through a flipper mechanism bracket 140.

Flipper mechanism bracket 140 appropriately supports the flipperalignment and stopping mechanism 145 which includes a driven timingpulley 147 connected to shaft 136. Pulley 147 has diametrically opposingdetents 149 and 150. Alignment braking bar 151 is biased and pivotallymounted at pivot 152. Bar 151 supports a roller 153 which readilyindexes into either detents 149 or 150. The end of bar 151 has an eye oreyelet 154 which suitably supports a spring 155 which is connected toanchor 156.

By this arrangement, the roller 153 may be easily indexed into detents149 and 150 to assist in stopping the rotation of pulley 147 which isnonrotatably connected to the flipper mechanism 122 and its plates 124and 128. A timing drive pulley 157 is also mounted in flipper mechanismbracket 140 and suitably has a shaft 158 journaled and passing throughbracket 140 connected to flipper motor 159. A timing belt 160appropriately is wrapped around pulleys 147 and 157 and held at theappropriate tension by idler pulley or keeper 160.5. Flipper motor 159then provides the rotational force for flipper mechanism 122.

Flipper cartridge retainer mechanisms 161 are provided to align withholes 163 in cartridge holder plates 124 and 128 as clearly shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. Mechanisms 161 each suitably include a hemisphericalsuitably plastic knob 165. Knob 165 appropriately has a mounting shaft167 which protrudes through a hole 171 in flat spring bar 169. Aretainer ring 173 appropriately locks on mounting shaft 167 to hold knob165 onto flat spring bar 169. Flat spring 169 then is held onto plates124 or 128 by screws or bolts 177 passing through retaining plate 179and held thereat by nuts 181.

Plastic knob 165 by this arrangement is suitably biased and indexablewith optical disc cartridge index or key holes 14 to releasably holddisc cartridge 10 within the flipper mechanism 122.

Picker mechanism 191 is suitably disclosed in the co-pending applicationbut is generally described here. Picker mechanism 191 may be seen inFIG. 3 and appropriately includes a picker mechanism bracket 193 whichsupports a block guide shaft 195. Slidably mounted on shaft 195 arepusher block 197 and picker block 199. Picker block 199 supports arotatable picker 201 which is indexable with pick notches 12 ofcartridge 10. A timing belt 203 is suitably wrapped around bracketpulley 205 and a drive pulley suitably connected to the rotating shaftof picker motor 209. Retro-reflective optical sensor 210 is also mountedon picker mechanism bracket 193 and appropriately signals the apparatusof the presence of the cartridge magazine 70 within the apparatus by wayof sensing the presence of sensor knob or tab 94.

Drive loader mechanism 272 is also disclosed in the co-pendingapplication but is generally described here and is supported by bracket274. Drive loader motor 276 is mounted on bracket 274 and appropriatelyhas a rotating shaft 278 connected to a load arm 280 and a load armplate or flag 284 which passes through load arm photo optical sensor290.

Traverse mechanism 300 appropriately has side support plates 302 and 304which support therebetween a forward traverse guide shaft 318 and a reartraverse guide shaft 316. On the bottom side of picker mechanism bracket193 are located forward and rearward traverse guide blocks 332 and 326which appropriately have apertures and bushings passing therethrough formounting the flipper and picker mechanisms 122 and 191 for movementalong an axis of motion to locate the mechanisms in front of either themagazine 70 or the optical disc drive 20. Bracket 349 is suitablymounted on base plate 34 and supports traverse motor 350 which has adrive pulley 354 mounted on the rotating shaft 351 of motor 350. Pulley354 has a timing belt 356 therearound and also around driven or idlerpulley 358 located on mounting bracket 360 suitably mounted on baseplate 34. The underside of picker mechanism bracket 193 also suitablysupports a photo-interrupter sensor 362 through which passes traverseposition photographic process code strip 364 adjustably mounted onbracket 366 supported by base plate 34. By this arrangement, theapparatus 30 knows where the traverse mechanism 300 has positioned theflipper and picker mechanism 122 and 191 with respect to magazine 70 ordrive 20.

In operation, the apparatus 30 is initially hooked up to a host computerby SCSI connectors. However, several of the apparati may bedaisy-chained together. After the power has been fed to the apparatus 30through a suitably power plug and switch, the apparatus 30 is controlledby a host computer by way of common command set commands. The apparatus30 includes control electronics (not shown) such as printed wireassemblies, firmware and switch panels. A microprocessor ormicro-controller may be operatively used by way of a microcode routinewhich receives sensor inputs and RAM and EPROM memory data to controlthe DC motors and their motor driver circuits.

The cartridge magazine 70 is accessed by way of a software controlleddoor (not shown) in apparatus housing 32. Upon the opening of the door,the handle 80 of cartridge magazine 70 is readily accessible by thehuman hand. The operator may then lift the magazine 70 upwardly andoutwardly of the apparatus as shown in FIG. 1. Because of the magazinecartridge retainer means 88, the cartridge magazine 70 may betransported about without a fear of the cartridges 10 falling out of themagazine 70 and perhaps being damaged.

After the user has loaded the magazine 70 with the appropriatecartridges 10, the magazine 70 is appropriately lowered into themagazine frame with the assistance of the cartridge magazine apparatusalignment means 81, which is appropriately the tongue 82 and groove 64arrangement. Thereafter, the door will be closed and the apparatus 30begins to initialize. Retro-reflective optical sensor 210 recognizesthat the cartridge magazine 70 is in the apparatus 30 by way of thereflection off of tab or flag 94. Thereafter, a cartridge 10 may bepicked from any slot 87 of the magazine 10 and pushed into another slot87 of magazine 70 or located in front of the slot 26 of optical discdrive 20. If the flipper mechanism 122 is located or moved in front ofthe optical disc drive 20, the flipper mechanism may have or may nothave gone through inversion by way of the flipper alignment and stoppingmechanism 145. Thereafter, the picker mechanism 191 pushes the cartridge10 out of the flipper mechanism 122 after which the optional driveloader mechanism 272 moves load arm 280 through slots 127 and 131 toload the cartridge 10 into the disc drive 20. When the drive 20 hasfinished with optical disc cartridge 10, the cartridge 10 is ejectedfrom drive 20 after which it may be picked by the picker mechanism 191and loaded into the flipper mechanism 122. The flipper cartridgeretainer mechanism 161 assures that the cartridge remains in the flippermechanism 122 until it is pushed outwardly by the picker mechanism 191.The flipper alignment and stopping mechanism 145, particularly thetiming pulley 147 with detents 149 and 150 along with the alignmentbreaking bar 151 and roller 153, suitably assure proper verticalalignment and stopping of the flipper mechanism 122 in an expeditiousmanner to assure smooth, fast and accurate operation of the apparatus30.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof; therefore,the illustrated embodiment should be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appendedclaims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed:
 1. An optical disk cartridge handling apparatus forstoring, handling, reading and writing of optical discs stored incartridges which store data, comprising:(a) an enclosed cartridgemagazine for protection of the cartridges with an open front removablefrom the apparatus for loading and unloading all the cartridges as agroup in the apparatus, the magazine having slots and cartridge retainermeans therein for vertically storing and releasably holding thecartridges, and a cartridge magazine alignment means to index and guidethe magazine in one way only into and out of the apparatus for properorientation of the open front within the apparatus; (b) a flippermechanism adapted to receive one of the cartridges from both themagazine and a vertically oriented optical disk drive with a verticalcartridge slot and a flipper cartridge retainer mechanism to releasablyhold the cartridge within the flipper; (c) a picker mechanism comprisedof a cartridge pusher and picker mounted along, below and adjacent theflipper mechanism for moving the cartridge into and out of the flippermechanism from both the magazine and the optical disk drive cartridgeslot; and (d) a horizontal traverse mechanism below the picker mechanismfor supporting and moving the flipper mechanism along a horizontal axisof motion to locate the flipper mechanism adjacent from both themagazine and the optical disk drive.
 2. The optical disc cartridgehandling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a handle of themagazine for grasping, lifting and carrying the magazine.
 3. The opticaldisc cartridge handling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the magazinecartridge retainer means comprises biased fingers within the magazinewhich are indexable in detents on the cartridges and wherein thecartridge magazine alignment means comprises a tongue slidably indexableand interlockable in a groove on the apparatus and the magazine.